Vending rack



W. J. ASHTON VENDING RACK Filedi/lc June l2, E923.

Patented .lune l2, 1923.

UNITE STATE-s PArNT OFFICE.-

WILLIAH ASHTON, 0F DALLAS, TEXAS.

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ppucmn mea nun 2o, me. a smal no. 544.9%.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ASHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State nels or inclined grooves for containing and feeding downward packages of goods, whereby the goods are not only adequately displayed, but may be conveniently removed by the customer and replaced from the rear of the rack by the storekeeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient means whereby thesupply of oods may be expeditiously replenished wit out interference with the vendin or the customers.

Anot er object of the invention is tov pro-v vide means for indicating when each particular groove or channel needs replenishing with goods, a particular feature being an arrangement whereby warning is given before the goods is actually exhausted, so that the storekee' r may re lenish the saine in time to keep t e rack fu A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following speci-1 fication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side .elevation of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a iront eleva-tion of the same,

Fi 3 is an enlarged partial vertical sec tiona view,

Fig.. d is an enlarged cross section on the line -e of Fig. 3, v

Fig. 5 is a detail of the price tag holder.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the electric switch for indicating that the goods need. replenishing, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same.

lnthe drawings the numeral 1()A designates a counter which is mounted onto of a ,frame work 11. The counter an frame work may have any desired length and may constitute a unit, lseveral ofiwhich may be used. The frame work 1s provided which lower end is moun 20 extending thereacross. A similar board' with shelves 12, on which` articles of a HEISSUED fragile nature and other commodities may `be stored, which cannot be conveniently: handled in the racks. Cross bars 13 have their forward end secured under the counter and attached to the upper portion of the frame work. These cross bars extend rearwardly and have their rear ends fastened.

to the upper ends of legs 14.

Posts l5 extend some distance above the bars 13 and are r`fastened to the latter a short distance from the rea-r ends thereof.

A platform 16'is supported on the bars 13 l in rear of the posts 15. A'top bar 17 connects the upper ends ofthe josts whereby a frame or arch is formed a ove the bars 13$ Short standards 18 are mounted at each end of thel counter. AThe upper ends of the standards are notches out to receive the lower end of a dispfy board 19, at a guard strip 21 having a guardstri 22, is mounted between the standards be ow the rst board. These boards are disposed at an inclination and have their upper end secured within the frame' and supported on cross strips 23, attached to the osts 15. Parallel braces 24; extend from t e lposts 15 down to the counter to lend stabi ity to the rack.

' Each board is provided with a pluralit of concaved channels or grooves 25 exten ing in parallel relation from the frame downwardly to the uard strips. These grooves are open at t e top so that access may be had thereto from the rear of the frame. The storekeeper mounts the platform 16 and inserts the packages such as canned goods and similar packages in the grooves 25 from the rear.v The packages slide down the grooves and ll the same as is shown in the drawings. Near the bottom ot' each groove is mounted a curved guard 26 which is secured to the hoard on each side of. each channel. lhese guards ar arranged so as to overhang the second pac L e from the bottom of the grooves, and their ction is to retain the second package in the groove when the lowermost package is pulled therefrom. It will be seen that it were not for such an arrangement, that when the lowermost package was lifted kbe remove 'in which aprice tag 28 may be conveniently displayed. It is .pointed out that if desired the boardsl 19 and 21, may be .formed of a 4plurality of elongated members, each con- In order that the storekeeper may be notified when a certain groove of goods is about to become empty, I provide an electrical enunciating system. In the bottom of each groove I provide a recess 29, in which is mounted a bowed spring member 30 having a plunger 31 secured to its underside and extending thru an aperture 32 in the board. The plunger has a laterally bent finger 33 on its lower end adapted to contact with a contact plate 34 fastened on the bottom of the board. The spring member is fastened by a bolt 35' passing thru the vboard and having an velectrical circuit wire A attached thereto. A circuit wire B is attached to the contact plate 34 and when the circuit is when an article is in the closed by the engagement of the parts 33 and 34, a suitablesignal will be energized as is obvious. It is not considered necessary to either illustrate or describe the character of signal other than to say it is located at a convenient place so as to be observed by the` storekeeper. It will be seen that roove over the member 30 the latterwill e depressed so that the contacts 33 and 34, will be separated and the circuit broken. By arranging the member 30 under the third article from the bottom of the groove, it will be seen that as long as there are three articles in the groove `no signal will be given, but when the third given, and this will enable him to quicklyY replenish the stock. Such an arrangement is very important in self service stores in which this device is particularly adaptedv to be used, altho it may be used in stores which employ clerks for serving the customers. It is also obvious that rack could be used without the signalling system, altho it is more efficient with the same.

Various changes in the size and construction of the parts as well as modifications, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What'I claim, is:

A vending rack comprising a frame structure including a counter and a rear support spaced from and extending above said counter and an elevated latform behind said support, a plurality o short standards mounted on said counter, an inclined display board having its upper end secured to said rear support and its lower end supported by the said standards, said board having a series of parallel longitudinalgrooves, each having a curvature for snugly receiving a plurality of cylindrical articles in superposed order, and an arcuate guard adjacent the lower end of each groove in position to overhang the next to the lowermost article, said guard having means holding a price tag in juxta-position to the articles in said groove.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WILLIAM J. ASHTON. 

